Riverside has several players who felt the sting of holding a lead in the fourth quarter of a state championship only to have it slip away two years ago.

Senior quarterback Brock Bourgeois is a third-year starter who along with wideouts Kenric Johnson and Chris Becnel, each a contributor as eighth graders back then, plus defensive lineman Ahmad Cage as a standout freshman at the time, were key players who lost to Southern Lab in 2023.

Now back at the Caesars Superdome to face No. 5 Ascension Catholic (11-2) and state record holding running back Trevin Simon in the LHSAA Division IV select state final set for 3:30 p.m. Thursday, No. 2 Riverside (11-1) knows better than most what is at stake this week.

“We got one of these in 2023, a silver trophy,” Riverside coach Lee Roussel said. “Now

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